The sun seems to make everyone happy. Whether it’s the association with a warmer environment, relaxing summer holidays or the thought of developing a sun tan, sunshine is popular wherever you go. Many people would like to live in a sunnier climate. It’s one of the most sought-after aspects of a high standard of living. But new research suggests that living in a sunnier environment is not just a great experience – it’s also great for our health.
The study, published in the medical journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, appears to have found a link between sunlight and a reduced risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. It has been speculated that vitamin D, which the body synthesises when it comes into direct contact with sunlight, could be the source of the protection.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful and debilitating condition that is caused by the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacking the cartilage in the joints. It is more common in women, and it’s not completely understood why it happens.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School looked at two groups of more than 100,000 women, one from 1976 onwards, the other from 1989. Their health was then compared with the level of sunlight they were exposed to, based on where they lived.
Those who lived in the sunniest areas were 21 percent less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than women who lived in less sunny areas. The reduction was much higher in the 1976 group than it was in the 1989 group. The researchers suggested that this was likely due to a greater use of sunblock by 1989.
The authors of the study pointed out that the results do not suggest that people should start spending a lot more time in the sun without any protection, as the sun is known to cause a number of problems with too much exposure.
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